Child protection: Infant died after visit from caseworker

D'IBERVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Officials with Mississippi's Child Protective Services say an infant found dead on the floor of a D'Iberville apartment was living in a home that was already under investigation by state child-service workers.

Child Protective Services spokeswoman Tonya Rogillio tells the Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/2bmluqe) that 10-month old Alyssa Kirk died in May of malnutrition and dehydration after being starved.

CPS began investigating the infant's home April 17 after caseworkers received reports of neglect on the part of the child's father. CPS Director David Chandler says the caseworker in charge of the investigation under-reported the severity of Alyssa's condition.

The child was found unresponsive by her grandfather May 4. That same night, authorities found the father, Paul Kirk, had hanged himself in the stairwell of an adjacent building.